Jumanji: The Next Level

Image credit: IMDb

With everything that’s going in my country right now; floods, hail, and raging bushfires, I find that I am at the very least grateful for the end to the cinematic drought that the new year has brought in. From Boxing Day there have been a total of three films that I have excitedly gone to the cinemas to watch, something that I had not been inspired to do in quite some time.

At my work there has definitely been a surge of popularity for both Star Wars and the Jumanji movies thanks to what’s on in cinemas right now, and you’d better believe that as my birthday treat, my partner and I did dinner out and Jumanji: The Next Level.

The film takes place after the central characters have graduated high school and are living their lives away from each other in college. With plans to catch up when they return home for the holidays, Spencer becomes insecure at the prospect of seeing Martha again, especially as their relationship is so up in the air, and hoping to get a quick hit of bravery, he takes out the Jumanji videogame and goes inside. When the rest of the gang find out what he’s done, they reluctantly go in to find him, only to discover Jumanji is not the same as before and Spencer’s elderly grandfather and his friend have also been sucked into the game.

As sequels go, The Next Level is pretty solid. There’s a good load of character development as the original heroes learn more about themselves, their relationships, and their place in the wider world, a story which runs alongside the estranged relationship of the two old men bound for reconciliation. While often predictable, the character arcs are still touching regardless and a good level of humour is brought to them through the absurdity of being acted out as videogame avatars.

Image credit: Variety

There is definitely a lot more action and drama happening in this film than in its predecessor, giving it more of a mature edge as a family movie. And while it was delightful seeing Jack Black be a vapid, self-centred high school princess, it’s fun to watch him and the other the avatars take on different personalities. While The Rock struggles with Danny DeVito’s Jersey accent, Kevin Hart shines in playing a soft-spoken and pensive character as opposed to the loud and screaming zoologist of the first movie.

With new characters, new challenges, and a few easter eggs that will delight fans of Robin Williams’ original, Jumanji: The Next Level is a fun family movie and a good sequel that delivers drama, comedy, and some strong feels.

Director: Jake Kasdan, 2019

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Danny DeVito, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkafina, Danny Glover, Alex Wolf, Ser-Darius Blain, Morgan Turner, Madison Iseman, and Rhys Darby